While both Prince Andrew, 65, and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 66, have agreed to stop using their Duke of York and Duchess of York titles, their daughters Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, reportedly won’t be forced to give anything up.
And while it was reported that Prince William, 44, will ban his disgraced uncle from attending Christmas with the royal family for the foreseeable future, it’s believed that the banishment will not extend to his cousins, who he is seemingly still very close to and very fond of.
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How Are Princess Beatrice And Princess Eugenie Affected By Prince Andrew Giving Up His Title?
When Prince Andrew released his statement about not using his royal titles anymore following the latest Jeffrey Epstein backlash, royal fans immediately started speculating how that would affect his two daughters. And according to royal experts, they won't be affected at all!
"They will still be known as princesses, which they have been entitled to since birth," reads a BBC report, which also confirmed that there will be no change to the line of succession.
Prince Andrew is currently eighth in line to the throne, followed by his daughter Beatrice in ninth place, Beatrice's daughters Sienna and Athena in tenth and eleventh, and Eugenie in twelfth. Eugenie's sons, August and Ernest, follow in thirteenth and fourteenth place respectively.
"Practically, their positions have little meaning for the future," royal commentator Victoria Murphy shared with the outlet, adding that they'll continue to move further down the list as time goes on.
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards, who has known the girls for years, also weighed in, writing in The Sun that they shouldn't be penalized for their parents' past. "While their parents may have been brought down by scandal, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie can hold their heads high," he wrote. "The girls are wonderful assets to the royal family and neither of them has ever put a foot wrong."
Did Princess Beatrice And Princess Eugenie Visit Jeffrey Epstein With Their Mother After He Was Released From Prison In 2009?
Although nothing will change for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie officially, they could find themselves falling out of favor with other royals or indeed the public following resurfaced claims that they "celebrated" convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's release from prison in 2009. However, both Sarah Ferguson (Fergie) and her daughters have denied the allegations.
According to newly surfaced emails, Fergie allegedly visited Epstein with her two daughters shortly after his release. He reportedly wrote: "[Sarah] took apartments in New York. She was the first to celebrate my release with her two daughters in tow. She visited me with [a] policeman sitting at my front desk. She has asked for help with her charities."
Epstein was convicted on June 30th, 2008 in a Florida state court and charged with one count each of soliciting a minor for prostitution and soliciting prostitution. A source reportedly told People that Beatrice and Eugenie never met Epstein, while another insider claimed to The Telegraph that neither Sarah nor her daughters have any recollection of such a visit.
The Internet Is Divided
The internet is unsurprisingly divided. "I feel pity for them: to have such a father," wrote one sympathetic fan on YouTube. "You can't blame them for having such unpleasant parents," wrote a second, in agreement.
"Kids shouldn't be involved in what their parents are up to," concurred a third, as a fourth echoed: "They are still Princesses. Their parents' mistakes aren't theirs." "They shouldn't have to worry about their parents' behavior. They are lovely young women and don't deserve to be treated poorly," agreed a fifth.
But not everyone felt the same way! "I'm afraid they chummied up to Epstein too!" exclaimed a sixth, as a seventh thought: "All of Prince Andrew's family need their titles removed. The entire family are untrustworthy."
"The York sisters cannot be trusted. The York and Sussex need to be removed from the royal website line of succession," slammed an eighth, as a ninth declared: "Those girls are The Offspring of Andrew and Fergie and the apple does not fall far from the tree."
